Lillian Sherwood, former NEWS copy editor, dies

BANGOR – Lillian Sherwood, 69, a former proofreader and copy editor at the Bangor Daily News, died unexpectedly Aug. 30 at a Bangor hospital.

Born in Caribou, Sherwood worked for 33 years at the NEWS, starting as a proofreader in the composing room. She moved up one floor to the newsroom in 1980 and joined the copy desk, a segment of the newspaper responsible for proofreading stories and writing headlines. She retired in 1994.

Before joining the newspaper, Sherwood was employed at the Bangor Public Library for several years.

Former NEWS colleagues Friday recalled Sherwood as skilled in the areas of spelling, grammar and general knowledge of the English language. On a personal level, Sherwood was recalled as person who commanded respect on the copy desk but also possessed a dry sense of humor that eased the sometimes tense, arduous task of putting a daily newspaper together on deadline.

“She was an excellent editor, had very good news judgment and her ability to meet deadlines was excellent,” said Duane “Mickey” Rair of Prospect, former head of the copy desk. Rair worked with Sherwood for several years before his retirement in 1990.

Sherwood was “a darn good proofreader and had very good knowledge of the English language,” said retired city editor Kalil Ayoob of Bangor.

Sherwood was valedictorian of her high school class. Her former co-workers said they often turned to her with technical usage questions.

Sherwood was an “invaluable resource. She knew English usage down cold,” said Christina Diebold, retired copy editor. Sherwood was “very meticulous” and skilled in spelling and grammar, Diebold recalled.

“If we ever had any [tough] questions we said, ‘ask Lillian,'” Diebold recalled. “Lillian was a rock. She also was fun to work with,” Diebold added.

An avid antique collector, Sherwood also enjoyed working in her flower gardens and watching birds from her kitchen window. She and her husband, Earl Sherwood, lived in the historical Joshua Chamberlain residence in Brewer.

Sherwood was “very proud” of the house, recalled former co-worker Jane Philbrick who worked with Sherwood for 14 years on the copy desk. Sherwood and her husband acquired apartment buildings and tried other ventures. “She was a very savvy businesswoman,” Philbrick recalled.

She is survived by six daughters, several grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Friends may call 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St. A service of remembrance will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5, at All Souls Congregational Church with Dr. James L. Haddix, pastor and teacher, officiating. Interment will be at the Mount Hope Cemetery.

Those who wish may make contributions in Sherwood’s name to Spruce Run, P.O. Box 653, Bangor 04402.